|
Line-up:
William J. Tsamis - Guitars, Bass
Mark G. Zonder - Drums
Joacim Cans - Vocals
Release Date:
22 July, 2002
Tracklist:
1. Battle Of The Living Dead
2. Enemy Wind
3. Invaders
4. Winds Of Thor
5. War In Heaven
6. My Name Is Man
7. Lucifer's Hammer
8. Sons Of A Dream
9. Achilles Revenge
Website:
www.warlord.ws
Check
also:
Surprise Of July 2002
|
The legend is back. After eighteen whole years of painful (for us)
absence from our music scene (at least under the "Warlord" name) William
Tsamis and Mark Zonder are here with a new album. Before embarking to analyze the new album I feel obliged to say a few words about the history
of the band, as most of the new metal fans might not be aware of what Warlord means. The band was formed in the beginning of the 80's by William
(guitars) and Mark (drums). Their first release was the mini LP - masterpiece "Deliver Us" in 1983 (never been released on CD, the vinyl costs
a fortune). Their second release in 1984 was the monumental "...And the Cannons of Destruction Have Begun", which in essence provided us with only a
few new songs and a couple of re-executions of old songs with their new singer. Unfortunately the band didn't manage to maintain a steady line-up
and so it disappeared. However the legacy they left behind is priceless. I
doubt that there is any other band which released only 12-13 songs and yet
characterized a whole era and being remembered as one of the greatest names
in 80's (and not only) heavy metal.
Warlord were in essence the musical child of the constant "duel" between William and Mark. Even the singers used to play a secondary role to the
songs. Amazing voices indeed but the whole story was the "musical battle"
between the two talented musicians (especially in the solos), where it seemed
that the one wanted to surmount the other, with the result to create a musical orgy never been copied again by
anyone else. William is probably the most expressive guitar player (compared maybe with Pink Floyd's David
Gilmour). He created amazing songs of lyrical heavy/power metal full of creepy harmonies and solos. Mark is the best drummer in the universe as he
achieved the unbelievable: to give life to the soulless drums and create
individual musical phrases (thank God he continued to provide us with his
ingenious play with Fates Warning after Warlord were disbanded).
One said once that the two most important power/epic bands ever are Manowar and Warlord, with the difference that Manowar expressed the passion
and the anger of the warrior going to the battle ready to slay them all,
whereas Warlord expressed the calmed feelings of the warrior who has returned from the battles and is able to narrate all those things he has
experienced...I cannot find any better way to describe it. For those who
haven't listened to Warolrd's music it is unbelievably difficult to describe
it, as noone managed to play as they did. The only band that managed to have
a similar sound were Crimson Glory in the "Transcendence" album.
The new album is nothing less than what Warlord know to produce. Lyrical power metal of the highest quality, in the way that noone else is able to
play it. There are only 4-5 bands that manage to give me the creeps with
their music as Warlord do and their new album did the same. It is as if not
one single day has passed from 1984. some times the feeling I get from what
I listen from the new album makes me wanna cry from the passion that the new
songs transmit to me. The singer this time is Hammefall's Joacim Cans (he
must be really thrilled as he is a massive Warlord fan), and I have to say
that I am speechless by his capabilities to perform those difficult songs.
Congratulations man! However I have to say that again the whole story is
William's and Mark's duel, this is what makes the album unique.
By the way it consists of four brand new songs, four songs that were published by Tsamis' project, Lordian Guard, but in essence were written
back in the 80's for the then upcoming Warlord album that was never released, and a re-execution of the classic "Lucifer's Hammer" (which
according to my opinion is the only weak moment of the album). Don't be misled by the
four re-issues of the Lordian Guard's songs! They sound like
totally new songs with a man on the vocals and Mark behind the drum set. All
songs are characterized by this unique Warlord sound of mystery and majesty
that turned them into a legend. I really find it worthless to say anything
else about a group that contributed to what I am today, rather just a huge
"thank you for your music". If you had the money to buy only one CD during
2002, then you should buy "Rising out of the Ashes". So you would be able to
understand what inspiration, talent and chemistry between two musicians can
create. What's left to me is to close with a few lyrics from an old song of
theirs: "All myths of man and Gods will apply, when sanity and reason begin to die
The Dragons you have denied and wish to slay, will rise to conquer us all
someday". HAIL!
by Alex Savatianos 10/10
| 